So I've been reading the Drizzt novels, and I couldn't help but wonder why the snake whips are directly associated with the Spider Queen's clergy. I mean they seem like they fit thematically as sadistic evil weapons. I was just wondering if anyone know why they don't have spider themed weaponry.
Look, if you've got diabolical, sadistic priestesses, they're pretty much required to be highly attractive and dressed accordingly, and then they practically have to use whips and have something to do with snakes and/or scorpions. It's traditional.
And anyway, have you ever tried to stick a spider on the end of a spear?
If those scourges / snake whips have 8 mini-lashes, that could fit the "spider" theme. It may also just fit the whole idea of being quick and agile, like a whiplash. They may also put little claws or fangs on the tips of each strand and possibly poison them. All sorts of reasons, really.
If those scourges / snake whips have 8 mini-lashes, that could fit the "spider" theme. It may also just fit the whole idea of being quick and agile, like a whiplash. They may also put little claws or fangs on the tips of each strand and possibly poison them. All sorts of reasons, really.
The whips are actual snakes.
Drow also use rods with Tentcles coming out of them that lash people. As for why thats just how the Drow be.
At a guess, they haven't found a way to probably transmute spiders to make a proper whip. Since that failed, the goal to to make the whip as painful as possible. Inferior snakes probably just had to do.
Honestly thought when I ran Out of the Abyss, I just had them using wicked sharp, poisoned blades/crossbows, with spider guilding everywhere. Branding is important.
I think it has to do with Tradition from previous games, and a tendency for games from the 80s to have a lot of "hair metal" flavor combined with "deviant art" levels of fan art. Their armor is lots of leather that wouldn't protect your from the cold much less combat and weapons are whips, chain, and knives. I'm pretty sure they added a lot of faux BDSM themes to the Drow to make them "edgy".
I always put it down to spiders and poison, so they use poison frequently in their machinations. Vipers are also always associated with danger, hidden danger in particular which is strongly thematic of the drow being the "snakes in the grass" hiding until the time is right to strike. Poison, pain, domination, all roll into one and make the drow pretty scary enemies. Snakes are also seen as intelligent, just look at Slytherin. The drow are very intelligent, just to survive in their society you have got to be thinking in terms of 50 to 100 year plans. Evil chessmasters...
Evil shenanigans...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
I believe the snakes are just tools and have nothing to do with the spider culture just as the lizard mounts are used by the drow to travel the underdark tunnels. I think its more for the venom and the fangs.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Tarkin | Human | Fighter 1 -> Rise of the Rough Riders
Kuno| Half Elf male | Rogue 2 Wielding a Rapier, dagger and leather armor.
A good chunk of the whip part is definitely the evil-is-sexy-bondage thing (there are a couple evil goddesses devoted to bondage), but there's another side to it as well.
I think that Lolth's priestess are sorta-trying to be faux-druids. Spiders, snakes, turning people into half-animal shapes. Snakes fit into the whole cruel-poisonous-nature theme. Originally, drow were just evil elves, and their cultures were basically the same as well, just "good" versus "evil." You had your fighters and mages (male drow, high elves) and the nature priests (wood elf and female drow). Drow have kind of evolved away from that, to being more assassin types and a minor in being bard-like (embodied by Vhaeraun and Eilistraee respectively), but the original culture under Lolth is still just a heavy handed reflection of high and wood elves.
A spider-themed whip could still be workable. Stark-white silk whip with dozens of spider fangs weaved into it.
Not exactly stealthy...and I find it hard to picture a dozen or so chelicerae attached to a whip. I mean yeah you could, but would be kinda weird and oddly furry.
.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So I've been reading the Drizzt novels, and I couldn't help but wonder why the snake whips are directly associated with the Spider Queen's clergy. I mean they seem like they fit thematically as sadistic evil weapons. I was just wondering if anyone know why they don't have spider themed weaponry.
Look, if you've got diabolical, sadistic priestesses, they're pretty much required to be highly attractive and dressed accordingly, and then they practically have to use whips and have something to do with snakes and/or scorpions. It's traditional.
And anyway, have you ever tried to stick a spider on the end of a spear?
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
If those scourges / snake whips have 8 mini-lashes, that could fit the "spider" theme. It may also just fit the whole idea of being quick and agile, like a whiplash. They may also put little claws or fangs on the tips of each strand and possibly poison them. All sorts of reasons, really.
At a guess, they haven't found a way to probably transmute spiders to make a proper whip. Since that failed, the goal to to make the whip as painful as possible. Inferior snakes probably just had to do.
Honestly thought when I ran Out of the Abyss, I just had them using wicked sharp, poisoned blades/crossbows, with spider guilding everywhere. Branding is important.
I'm with Matthias,
I think it has to do with Tradition from previous games, and a tendency for games from the 80s to have a lot of "hair metal" flavor combined with "deviant art" levels of fan art.
Their armor is lots of leather that wouldn't protect your from the cold much less combat and weapons are whips, chain, and knives. I'm pretty sure they added a lot of faux BDSM themes to the Drow to make them "edgy".
More fitting? ;-)
I recommend asking Ed Greenwood, if you can.
You, you and you- panic. Everyone else- follow me.
I always put it down to spiders and poison, so they use poison frequently in their machinations. Vipers are also always associated with danger, hidden danger in particular which is strongly thematic of the drow being the "snakes in the grass" hiding until the time is right to strike. Poison, pain, domination, all roll into one and make the drow pretty scary enemies. Snakes are also seen as intelligent, just look at Slytherin. The drow are very intelligent, just to survive in their society you have got to be thinking in terms of 50 to 100 year plans. Evil chessmasters...
Evil shenanigans...
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
I believe the snakes are just tools and have nothing to do with the spider culture just as the lizard mounts are used by the drow to travel the underdark tunnels. I think its more for the venom and the fangs.
Tarkin | Human | Fighter 1 -> Rise of the Rough Riders
Kuno| Half Elf male | Rogue 2 Wielding a Rapier, dagger and leather armor.
Thread necromancy! Yay!
A good chunk of the whip part is definitely the evil-is-sexy-bondage thing (there are a couple evil goddesses devoted to bondage), but there's another side to it as well.
I think that Lolth's priestess are sorta-trying to be faux-druids. Spiders, snakes, turning people into half-animal shapes. Snakes fit into the whole cruel-poisonous-nature theme. Originally, drow were just evil elves, and their cultures were basically the same as well, just "good" versus "evil." You had your fighters and mages (male drow, high elves) and the nature priests (wood elf and female drow). Drow have kind of evolved away from that, to being more assassin types and a minor in being bard-like (embodied by Vhaeraun and Eilistraee respectively), but the original culture under Lolth is still just a heavy handed reflection of high and wood elves.
A spider-themed whip could still be workable. Stark-white silk whip with dozens of spider fangs weaved into it.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."